Ringo Starr has been knighted

Photo: ringostarr.com

Congratulations, Ringo Starr! The former Beatle can now call himself Sir Richard. 
Details from the New Year Honours here: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-42504660

Donald Fagen on Walter Becker, the lawsuit and the future of Steey Dan

Hear this brand new interview with Donald Fagen on the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast.

The Zappa Roxy shows on 7 CD's

All the Zappa/Mothers shows at the Roxy in December 1973 will be released in a box set.
Yes, one more monster release from the Zappa Family Trust. We just got the Halloween '77 set and now this.
Read all about the Roxy Performances here.

New Hendrix album with 10 unreleased songs

Both Sides of the Sky is the title of the new Hendrix album that will be released on March 9, 2018.
Billboard reports that the album contains 13 tracks and that 10 of them have never been released before. Most of the songs feature the Band of Gypsys.

The new album is the third volume in a trilogy with material culled from the Hendrix archive. Valleys of Neptune was the first one (2010) followed by People, Hell and Angels (2013).

Rolling Stones On Air available on December 1

December 1, 2017 will see the release of The Rolling Stones – On Air, a collection of radio recordings from their early years. 
The songs were originally broadcast on different BBC shows between 1963 and 1965.

Track list here:
https://www.bluesmagazine.nl/the-rolling-stones-on-air/

Walter Becker's estate responds to lawsuit

According to Rolling Stone Walter Becker's estate has responded to Donald Fagen's Steely Dan lawsuit.

Donald Fagen's lawsuit

Water Becker's estates response

Donald Fagen sues Walter Becker's estate

It's about a buy-sell agreement signed by the original bandmembers when Steely Dan was incorporated in the early 1970's. It says that whenever a member of the group quits or dies, Steely Dan purchases all of that member's shares in the group.

According to the lawsuit filed in court yesterday Donald Fagen had recieved a letter from Becker's estate four days after Walter Becker's death  saying that the buy-sell agreement from 1972 no longer was valid and that Becker's widow wanted 50 percent ownership of Steely Dan.

Read more:
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/steely-dan-singer-sues-bandmates-estate-1060687

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/steely-dans-donald-fagen-sues-walter-beckers-estate-w512406


UPDATE 28 NOVEMBER 2017:

Walter Becker's Estate Responds to Donald Fagen's Steely Dan Lawsuit
 

Video of rare Walter Becker song

Over on walterbecker.com there's a new clip of Walter Becker performing his unreleased song with the catchy title The Girl Next Door To The Methadone Clinic. He performed it live at a 1995 solo show and it supposedly exists as a bootleg, but we've not heard of anyone actually owning a copy.

Anyway, here it is recorded home video style and well worth a watch and a listen. Or three.

News of the World – Queen box set with unreleased material

The most interesting part of the new Queen box set is probably the newly created ‘alternative’ version of the whole album – Raw Sessions.
It features never-before-heard alternative versions of each of the album’s 11 tracks.

"Every lead vocal is different, as are most of the lead guitar parts and a great many other instrumental details.  Here we experience We Are The Champions anew, with many unfamiliar vocal and instrumental elements, and for the first time at its full-recorded length rather than the edited 1977 album cut.  Here also is the chance to discover peak era Freddie Mercury vocals on a track that nobody outside Queen’s inner circle has heard him sing before at all – Brian May’s All Dead, All Dead.  The original album version features May himself on vocals. Roger Taylor’s Sheer Heart Attack can be heard with its original long-lost guitar intro and uncut ending.  Taylor’s other song, Fight From The Inside, is more remarkable in that we hear his demo vocal worked on in his home studio in preparation for the next sessions, ‘homework’ that all of the band members would regularly carry out."

http://www.queenonline.com/news/press-release-news-of-the-world-40th-anniversary-edition

Update on Walter Becker's illness and death

walterbecker.com has been updated with a text from Delia Becker, wife of Walter Becker who died two and a half moths ago.
Delia writes:

As Walter Becker’s wife of many years, I wanted to share with his fans some information regarding his death that has not previously been reported. I realize this is overdue, and I hope you will understand why. For me personally, his death was a devastating blow, as I know it was for many of you. I am just beginning to emerge from its heartbreaking impact. 

           Walter died in the course of being treated for an extremely aggressive form of esophageal cancer. The cancer was detected during one of his annual medical checkups and its presence came as a grim surprise to Walter, his doctors and to me. It seemed to have come out of nowhere and had spread with terrifying speed.

Read the full statement here: http://walterbecker.com/#statement

Early September Walter's daughter asked for help documenting all the media coverage around Walter's passing. With the help of fans it grew and morphed into The Walter Becker Media Project collecting his "Hey 19 raps" through the years.
If you don't know what they are head on over to http://www.dandom.com/hey19 and look and listen at the clips from various Steely Dan shows through the years now online as Walter Becker Digital Archive.

It is also linked to from http://walterbecker.com/mediaproject.html. And at the bottom of that page is a short 20 second video with Walter that must've been shot not that long ago.

Nona Hendryx releases Beefheart album (!)

 

Singer Nona Hendryx has recorded an album with Captain Beefheart covers together with Beefheart guitarist Gary Lucas.

This is quite a surprise. LaBelle veteran Nona is a terrific singer but her style seems far away from the sounds of Captain Beefheart.

Check out this link and scroll down to hear the new album.
Sounds pretty nice, we think!

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/nona_hendryx_covering_captain_beefheart_hear_the_whole_album_here_first

Zappa's "Halloween 77" now on Spotify

6 complete shows from the Palladium in New York City! Frank Zappa, Terry Bozzio, Adrian Belew, Patrick O*Hearn, Ed Mann, Tommy Mars, Peter Wolf. 

Here it is: 
https://open.spotify.com/album/1NBN36RMfIu7BM9T1DCSqg

After listening through only 45 minutes of it yet, we dare to say that it is nothing but a great listening experience. The sound is great. Yes, the repertoire is mostly the same from night to night, but it is a nice repertoire and a great band, AND there are some pieces that we are really extra curious about: Conehead (the instrumental), Wild Love, Pound For A Brown, King Kong...most of them instrumentals, all of them lengthy pieces with solos and improvisation.

It is easy to understand why Frank enjoyed the Palladium dates so much. This special collection allows us to feel the strong response from the audience and how that stimulated Frank and the band. Great release!

Radio Dupree September 26: Track list for Zappa "Halloween 77"
https://radiodupree.blogspot.se/2017/09/track-list-for-zappa-halloween-77.html

Steely Dan add Book of Liars to setlist

Steely Dan is back on the road as the Steely Dan band doing the third show this evening since the passing off Walter Becker.
The first two in Tulsa and Thackerville, Oklahoma a couple of days ago had the song Book of Liars from Walter Becker's solo debut in the setlist with Donald singing. And according to reports with a photo slide show of Walter in the background.

Here's a live version from the 1995 album Alive in America with Walter on vocals.

Great Rolling Stones concert in Stockholm

Radio Dupree attended the Rolling Stones show in Friends Arena, Stockholm on October 12. 
The No Filter tour show turned out to be spectacular. With 55 000 people in the audience there was definately need for those large video screens, so that everybody could see what was going on. Light show, fireworks and all.
Opening act was the Swedish band The Hellacopters. A little bit too noisy for your's truly, but their song I'm With the Band was great.

The Stones opened their show with Sympathy For The Devil, a great opener. The first songs were a little sloppy here and there, but it soon got better. Sweet Virginia was chosen by the fans and sure was one of the highlights of the show. Other highlights were  Midnight Rambler and Street Fighting Man.

After Jumpin’ Jack Flash the band played an encore of two songs: Gimme Shelter and Satisfaction. The latter one sounded a bit lame. The guitar riff never sounds better than on the original recording.

Mick Jagger is moving around on stage as always and it's hard to realize that he is 74. Keith Richards still plays some mean guitar (of course). Charlie Watts, the cool and silent guy, handles the drumming with regular confidence. Maybe Ron Wood surprised us a little with some really cool (slide) guitar playing.
And don't forget the other seven musicians (bass player Darryl Jones being one of them).

Song list:
Sympathy for the Devil
It’s Only Rock’n’roll (but I like it)
Tumbling Dice
Just Your Fool
Ride ’em on Down
Under My Thumb
Sweet Virginia
You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Paint it Black
Honky Tonk Women
Happy
Slipping Away
Miss You
Midnight Rambler
Street Fighting Man
Start Me Up
Brown Sugar
Jumpin’ Jack Flash

Encore:
Gimme Shelter
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction

Sigurd Huckle
Radio Dupree

50 years ago – Zappa's first visit to Scandinavia

Tonight is the 50th anniversary of Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention's legendary concert in Konserthuset, Stockholm.
The September 30, 1967 show was recorded by Sveriges Radio and has been aired several times and as a result of that ended up on several bootlegs. It is also a rare recording of this early incarnation of the Mothers. The radio broadcast is 40 minutes long and starts off with several shorter pieces, mostly pop songs, and ends with a longer instrumental: King Kong, including I Can't Happen Here from the first Mothers album Freak Out! released in 1966.
The clip above from the Konserthuset concert includes Petrushka (Stravinsky), Bristol Stomp (Appell/Mann) and Big Leg Emma (Zappa).

This was the Mothers of Invention's first European tour and they first went to London and Amsterdam. The Scandinavian part of the tour started with two shows at Liseberg's amusement park in Gothenburg, Sweden on September 29. Next day they played Stockholm and then off to Copenhagen, Denmark (October 1), and Lund, Sweden (October 2).

Zappa and the Mothers quickly became quite popular in Scandinavia, at least in Sweden. During the next 15 years Zappa's European tours always included shows in the Scandinavian countries and sometimes in Finland too (actually not a Scandinavian country, although it borders to Sweden).
In Sweden Zappa got quite a lot of attention: In 1973 Swedish public service television filmed a concert in Stockholm with Zappa's new line up of the Mothers. In 1979 Zappa's song Bobby Brown was one of the most popular songs, also in Norway and Germany. Now and then one could even hear Dancin' Fool and Joe's Garage being played on Swedish Radio.

Track list for Zappa "Halloween 77"

Now we know the content for the 6 Halloween '77 shows that will be released on a USB stick. Check out links below. Amazon is also taking pre-orders now.
The release, the box, also includes a Frank Zappa Halloween mask and costume. (Pretty stupid we think.)
There is also a 3 CD version, which has the entire show from October 31, 1977 (which is also included in the memory stick edition) plus some extras.

The cover for the 3 CD set.

Information on the memory stick release at Amazon.com

Information on both releases at Zappa.com

Rolling Stone's Walter Becker article

The new issue of Rolling Stone has an article about Steely Dan founder Walter Becker who died September 3 at the age of 67:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/remembering-walter-becker-steely-dans-quiet-hero-w504720

Frank Zappa live on stage - as a hologram

The Zappa Family Trust announces "The Hologram Tour", with Frank Zappa live on stage as a hologram backed up by several of his old musicians:

Zappa Family Trust working with Eyellusion on multiple groundbreaking productions that will feature former bandmates in celebration of late music legend’s art, life and legacy.

LOS ANGELES – SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 – Eyellusion, live music’s premier hologram production company, today announced that it will work closely with the Zappa Family Trust to produce hologram performances of Frank Zappa, giving fans an opportunity to experience the prolific, eclectic and critically acclaimed music legend live in concert again. Production for the Zappa shows will kick off in late 2017, with performances announced later in 2018.

“I’m thrilled that Frank Zappa will finally be going back out on tour playing his most well-known music as well as some rare and unheard material,” said Ahmet Zappa, co-Trustee of the Zappa Family Trust. “We can’t wait to bring his creative work back to the stage with the musicians he loved to play with, such as Steve Vai, Ian Underwood, Adrian Belew, Arthur Barrow, Vinnie Colaiuta, Scott Thunes, Mike Keneally, Denny Walley, Warren Cuccurullo and Napoleon Murphy Brock among others who are committed to being part of this epic endeavor. When I spoke with them, they were excited at the prospect of performing alongside Frank once again and can’t wait to give fans an unforgettable experience.”

He continued, “Also, how radical would it be to have Moon singing ‘Valley Girl’ onstage with Frank? Or to see Dweezil side by side with our father playing dueling guitar solos? That would be my greatest wish and I look forward to bringing this special celebration of Frank’s legacy to a town near you. But if that wasn’t enough Zappa coolness, we’re also planning on staging Joe’s Garage The Musical with none other than Frank Zappa himself starring as the Central Scrutinizer.”

More to read here: http://www.zappa.com/news/frank-zappa-back-road-hologram-tour

The Walter Becker Media Project 2017

Walter Becker's homepage has added a page titled The Walter Becker Media Project 2017. After asking for help to document media's coverage of Walter's passing and accumulated the volunteers to do that, the Media Project is now a continuation where fans can help.

"Because we figure we've got the ear, so to speak, of fans who have expressed interest in contributing to WB's historical record (that would be you). And maybe that's an opportunity we shouldn't let go of so quickly.

For instance, high on our wish list of  Becker archive activities has been to collect all of WB's "Hey 19 raps" into one place….and in a format that won't disappear or change standard, such as Quicktime.

(We won't bother to detail the ways in which such a compendium would be of value; you either get it or your don't).

This project becomes more urgent by the day, as Youtube material disappears behind paywalls quicker that it can be viewed. 

...

Can we (the fans) find, extract, and convert these raps so that we end up with a comprehensive library of the nightly improvisational gems of WB's beautifully twisted mind?? " 

Go to http://walterbecker.com/mediaproject.html to read the full text.  

P.S.
Talking of gathering bits and pieces of Walter Becker's work from all over the web, we at Radio Dupree would love to see the complete video included in the press kit for his debut album 11 Tracks of Whack. The video was once upon a time available on the Youest of Tubes, but disappeared years ago.

Blue Note Jazz Festival in Yokohama cancelled after Donald Fagen withdraws as headliner

The final dates of the Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers tour would've been three shows in Japan. Two of them headlining the Blue Note Jazz Festival in Yokohama.


Following the cancellation of the final four U.S. shows a couple of days ago it was not really a surprise that the Japanese leg was cancelled shortly afterwards.

A bit more surprising is that it lead to the whole festival being annulled. Here's the full message on the festival's homepage:

2日間ヘッド・ライナーとして出演を予定していました「ドナルド・フェイゲン＆ザ・ ナイトフライヤーズ」は、ドナルド・フェイゲン氏の急病により、来日および本フェスティバルへの出演がキャンセルとなりました。

「ドナルド・フェイゲン＆ザ・ナイトフライヤーズ」出演キャンセルを受け実行委員会で検討しました結果、本フェスティバルの開催を中止することを決定しました。

今回のフェスティバルには、国内外の素晴らしいアーティストの皆様に出演いただく予定になっておりました。ヘッド・ライナーである「ドナルド・フェイゲン＆ザ・ナイトフライヤーズ」を軸に各アーティストに出演のお願いをし、プログラムを組み立ててきたなかで、主催者としては「ドナルド・フェイゲン＆ザ・ナイトフライヤーズ」の出演無くしては、この音楽フェスティバルを成り立たせることは難しいと考え、開催中止という結論に至りました。

お手持ちのチケットは払い戻しをさせていただきます。払い戻しの方法は2017年9月22日（金）に、本ウェブサイトでご案内いたします。

本フェスティバルを楽しみにしてくださっていたお客様には、多大なご迷惑をおかけしますことを深くお詫び申し上げます。


2017年 9月 14日
Blue Note JAZZ FESTIVAL in JAPAN 実行委員会

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the cancellation of Blue Note JAZZ FESTIVAL in JAPAN 2017 at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse on September 23 & 24.

Due to the sudden illness of Donald Fagen, he is unable to perform with his band, Donald Fagen &The Nightflyers, and their upcoming shows in Japan.

Despite our best efforts, we are not able to go ahead without the 2 days headlining artist.
Sincerest apologies to all of you who were looking forward to the festival. Your tickets refund information will be made available on this website on Sep 22.

Once again, we apologize for the inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding.

September 14, 2017
Blue Note JAZZ FESTIVAL in JAPAN Executive Committee

Walter Becker tribute on Clam Radio Thursday evening!

Clam Radio on WUSB-FM in New York will be all Walter Becker Thursday at 9 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.

John Tabacco presenter:

"This Thursday, Sept.14th from 9:00AM - 12:00 noon Clam Radio will be darkling down and celebrating the musical legacy of Walter Becker. Steely Dan songs, solo work, co-writes, rarities, interviews and various productions by W.B. will be feeding your speakers. Tune into 90.1FM or listen at www.wusb.fm
No static at all."

UPDATE September 22:

Missed it? The compelete show is avaiable in four parts. Here's part 1:
https://www.mixcloud.com/clamradio/clam-radios-tribute-to-walter-becker-part-1/ 

Donald Fagen cancels shows and new Steely Dan shows announced

A couple of days ago eight Steely Dan shows in the U.S. in were announced. This adds to the previously announced shows in London and Dublin late October:

October 13 – Thackerville, OK @ WinStar World Casino and Resort
October 16 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
October 17 – Buffalo, NY @ Shea’s Performing Arts Center
October 19 – Orillia, ON @ Casino Rama Resort
October 20 – Windsor, ON @ Caesars Windsor
October 22 – Wallingford, CT @ Oakdale Theatre
October 24 – Baltimore, MD @ Pier Six Pavilion
October 25 – National Harbor, MD @ MGM National Harbor

October 28 - Dublin @ 3Arena
October 29 - London @ The O2 Arena
October 30 - Dublin @ 3Arena

Following Walter Becker's death a couple of Donald Fagen & The Nighflyers shows were cancelled, but now all the remaining four U.S. dates of that tour has been cancelled due to illness. The September 20 in Osaka, Japan show plus two in Yokohama, Japan on September 23 and 24 are still listed on Fagen's Facebook page.

Details on the upcoming Zappa Halloween '77 release

There seem to be two different releases; a 3 CD version with the entire Halloween night show plus some extras, and a box set on USB stick featuring all six Halloween shows of 1977.
Yes, it's a little bit confusing.
But this is the information we get from the very fine source http://www.idiotbastard.com/news.htm#Hot

Adrian Belew and King Crimson friends again

The inconvenience between Crimson ex front man Adrian Belew and the current Crimso line up seems to be solved.
Belew was unhappy with King Crimson playing songs from the early 80's KC era where Belew was the front man and also co-writer of the bands songs.
Band leader Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew have spoke on the phone and seems to be on good terms with each other.

Fripp writes on his Facebook page: 
"Adrian has also agreed to be King Crimson's Ninth Man. Who knows what the future holds for this strange outfit?"

Belew corrected this: "it doesn't mean I'm back in the band currently. it means I may be back in the band in the future at some point. it leaves the door open for Crimson to evolve as necessary. so, nothing for the future has changed with either Crimson or Gizmodrome but at least we now understand each and can continue our friendship."

https://www.dgmlive.com/news/Belew%20now%209th%20Man

Walter Becker's daughter posted a tribute and Donald Fagen a lyric "for Walter"

After Steely Dan founder Walter Becker died yesterday his musical partner for the past forty years; Donald Fagen, posted a lyric on his Facebook page. It's a song called Dead of Winter and by the band Eels. The post simply says

"For Walter
(posted by Donald and Libby Fagen)"

standing in the dark outside the house
breathing in the cold and sterile air
well i was thinking how it must feel
to see that little light
and watch it as it disappears
and fades into
and fades into the night

Link to the full post: https://www.facebook.com/DonaldFagenMusic/posts/1757739640923093




And over at walterbecker.com Walter's daughter Sayan has posted a tribute that begins:

You loved music more than anyone I know. You're always there bobbing your head to each beat,  doing a little dance here and there, or sitting over there with your big head phones on and swaying back and forth. I could see it, your dissecting the song — listening in closely for each beat , for each musical instrument — you know, whatever you musicians do. But I get it.

Link to the full tribute: http://walterbecker.com/daughters.html

Walter Becker has died

walterbecker.com

Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker died today. He was 67 years old.

Becker was not part of the band when they played the Classic West and Classic East concerts in July this year, and in an August interview with Billboard magazine Donald Fagen was quoted saying that "Walter's recovering from a procedure and hopefully he'll be fine very soon."

Walter Becker and Donald Fagen met at Bard College, New York 1967 and started writings music together. They had great success during the 1970's after forming the band Steely Dan.
Steely Dan split in 1981 but reformed in 1993 touring and eventually releasing one live and two studio albums. The latest being Everyting Must Go from 2003.

During the Steely Dan break up Walter Becker produced numerous artists, including Donald Fagen's 1993 album Kamakiriad. In return Donald co-produced Walter's solo debut 11 Tracks Of Whack from 1994.

Walter released a second solo album in 2008 titled Circus Money. It was produced by Larry Klein who in March this year wrote this on his Facebook page:

"I co-wrote and produced an album with my friend Walter Becker in 2008. I don't think that I've ever had more fun writing and making a record."



Donald Fagen statement September 3, 2017:

Walter Becker was my friend, my writing partner and my bandmate since we met as students at Bard College in 1967. We started writing nutty little tunes on an upright piano in a small sitting room in the lobby of Ward Manor, a mouldering old mansion on the Hudson River that the college used as a dorm.

We liked a lot of the same things: jazz (from the twenties through the mid-sixties), W.C. Fields, the Marx Brothers, science fiction, Nabokov, Kurt Vonnegut, Thomas Berger, and Robert Altman films come to mind. Also soul music and Chicago blues.

Walter had a very rough childhood - I’ll spare you the details. Luckily, he was smart as a whip, an excellent guitarist and a great songwriter. He was cynical about human nature, including his own, and hysterically funny. Like a lot of kids from fractured families, he had the knack of creative mimicry, reading people’s hidden psychology and transforming what he saw into bubbly, incisive art. He used to write letters (never meant to be sent) in my wife Libby’s singular voice that made the three of us collapse with laughter.

His habits got the best of him by the end of the seventies, and we lost touch for a while. In the eighties, when I was putting together the NY Rock and Soul Review with Libby, we hooked up again, revived the Steely Dan concept and developed another terrific band.

I intend to keep the music we created together alive as long as I can with the Steely Dan band.

Donald Fagen & Walter Becker. Photo: Danny Clinch/steelydan.com

Coming soon: Bruford box set

Seems Like A Lifetime Ago - the collected works of Bruford on a 6cd/2dvd box set, including lots of previously unreleased material.

Details here:
https://burningshed.com/bruford_feels-like-a-lifetime-ago_boxset#.WZXYgOQo3KE.facebook

Drummer/band leader Bill Bruford talks about the Boxed Set:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ93Y0rgiGc&feature=em-upload_owner

Sparks talk about yesterday and today

Ron och Russell Mael of the group Sparks have guested Sveriges Radio.
During almost 50 years they have made pop music that does not resemble of anything else but...Sparks. When Sparks played in Stockholm recently Sveriges Radio invited them to the studio. Here they talk about the old days as well as what they are up to today.
Most of this is in English:

http://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt/927390?programid=4887

And here is a piece from the Radio Dupree archive:
https://radiodupree.blogspot.se/2009/05/sparks-meet-ingmar-bergman.html

Donald Fagen's solo tour: Expect two new songs and covers

Photo: Bon Jane

An interesting article in Wall Street Journal sheds more light on what the 2017 summer tour will consist of. Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers will treat the audience to songs from all of his four solo albums plus a few Steely Dan songs. No surprise there.

They will also do some covers. The article mentions Rolling Stones' "Beast of Burden" and the Beatles "I'll Cry Instead" as well as Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me" and Grateful Dead's "Shakedown Street". That last one he's played live before.

Interestingly Donald Fagen will bring two new songs on the road. "Hardboiled Life" is the title of one of them.
And he has this to say about his new, young band members:

“These guys are used to jamming, so their spontaneity adds a new kind of energy and looseness to the music They have a lot of juice.”

P.S. The above photo does not include the recently added Zach Djanikian (saxophone and guitar).

Queen and David Bowie recorded unreleased music together

1981 David Bowie and Queen had a big hit with Under Pressure. In an article in The Guardian this week Peter Hince, who was head of Queen's road crew, says he was present in the studio when they recorded the hit song but also more music that hasn't been released so far. Hince describes the music as proper full-length rock 'n roll tracks. Raw but good.

The article go on quoting Neil Cossar, a music historian currently writing a book on Bowie, saying that Bowie and Queen were just jamming in the studio playing covers and some original songs. But everything was recorded.

Sting donates Polar Prize money

British artist Sting donates his Polar Prize money of about one million kronor (circa $115,000) to the Swedish music project Songlines, which works with young refugees.

http://www.songlines.se/press/sting-donates-polar-music-prize-money-to-songlines/

http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=478&artikel=6735623

Weekend music: The Mothers at Newport Jazz Festival

There are not too many filmed events of Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention from the 1960's. 
But here's some footage with them from 1969. Now with sound too! Enjoy, and happy weekend!

Paul McCartney and Sony reach deal

Sir Paul and Sony have a reached a deal in a battle over who owns publishing rights to The Beatles' songs,

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/paul-mccartney-reaches-settlement-sony-atv-beatles-rights-dispute-1018100

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-40457703?SThisFB

Unreleased Steely Dan songs coming your way in July

Anthony Robustelli has recorded ten unreleased Steely Dan tracks and collected them on the album "The Steely Dan Sessions: Interpretations of Unrealized Classics" on sale July 11.

Tracks:

The Bear Got You
Kulee Baba
A Little With Sugar
Let George Do It
The Second Arrangement
Mr. Sam
Yellow Peril
Sun Mountain
Talkin' 'Bout My Home
I Can't Write Home About You

Anthony is a musician and author who's written a couple of books on The Beatles as well as the just published "Steely Dan FAQ: All That's Left to Know about This Elusive Band". (We just got our copy and will read and review shortly).


Friday the 30 June there'll be a release party for both the book and the CD at The Bitter End in New York at 6:45 P.M.

Gene Simmons tries to trademark iconic gesture

Kiss veteran Gene Simmons wants to trademark the well known gesture of rock'n roll, the "devil horns".
Simmons claims he invented the gesture on stage 1974.
This has of course upset many people. Some critics say that one simply can not trademark a gesture. And also, it seems like Gene was not first. Check out the cover of the Beatles' 1966 single Yellow Submarine/Eleanor Rigby:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/gene-simmons-seeks-register-trademark-iconic-rock-hand-gesture-1013378

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/40286165/gene-simmons-to-trademark-devil-horns-gesture

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/ronnie-james-dios-widow-calls-gene-simmonss-attempt-to-trademark-horns-hand-gesture-laughable-and-disgusting/

Phil Collins live in Cologne, June 11

Several pieces of footage from the recent Phil Collins tour is floating around on the internet. Here is one of the better ones. 
But the fans seem to be divided. "Painful to see. Painful to hear", is one of the comments on social media. Another one goes "But one have to give him cred for trying."

Steely Dan's Everything Must Go 14 years today!

So far the latest Steely Dan album of new music released. June 10 2003.

Walter Becker's Circus Money is 9 years today

And you can learn more about this great album at walterbecker.com

Listen to Bob Dylan's Nobel Prize lecture here

The Swedish Academy has finally received Bob Dylan’s Nobel Lecture.  
"The speech is extraordinary and, as one might expect, eloquent. Now that the Lecture has been delivered, the Dylan adventure is coming to a close", writes Sara Danius, permanent secretary of the Academy.
Dylan did send the recording of his lecture only five days before deadline.

You can listen to, and read Dylan's lecture here:
http://www.svenskaakademien.se/en/nobel-lecture

Radio Dupree, March 29, 2017:
Bob Dylan gets his Nobel Prize medal this weekend
It has been unclear whether Bob Dylan will come to Sweden to collect his Nobel Prize medal and if he will hold his Nobel Prize lecture. Now the Swedish Academy has received a message from Dylan that he will meet the Academy the coming weeked to receive the Nobel Prize diploma and medal...

https://radiodupree.blogspot.se/2017/03/dylan-gets-his-nobel-prize-medal-this.html

King Crimson now available on Spotify!

King Crimson - kings of progressive rock - finally on Spotify with two albums!
Well, only two albums (so far) but this allows some tasty listening. It's the brand new EP with a nice cover of Bowie's Heroes plus four updated live 2016 versions of some old KC favourites.
Then there is the music from the 3 CD set Radical Action to Unseat the Hold of Monkey Mind (live 2015). Lots of old Crimson songs as well as newer stuff.
Excellent!

Click here to listen!

Only two Genesis songs in Phil Collins' comeback show

Yesterday Phil Collins did his first gig in a decade. 
The concert took place in Liverpool and is the only UK gig outside of London. There has been great interest in Phil Collin's "Not Dead Yet" tour, and tickets have sold out very quickly.
Some fans may react over Phil's choice of songs. Very few by Genesis - only two! Well, he has mainly done things as a solo artist since the early 80's, right?

Anyway, if you're interested in checking out a couple of reviews (and the songlist) of the Liverpool June 2nd Echo Arena concert, you may go here:
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/review-phil-collins-echo-arena-13130061

Another one here:
https://www.genesisfan.net/phil-collins/articles/2017/review-phil-collins-wows-liverpool-echo-arena-with-triumphant-first-gig-in-a-decade

The tour continues to London (Hyde Park plus five shows at the Royal Albert Hall), Paris and Cologne.

50th anniversary edition of Absolutely Free

For September release: an expanded 2 LP version of the classic Mothers of Invention 1967 album. 
That's nice, but on social media several fans have expressed their disappointment:

"WOW...I guess their really ISN'T much left in the vault for my favorite Mothers album."

"Only one side of bonus material? Blatant attempt to cash-in on the neo-vinyl craze."

Amazon is taking pre-orders now.

Newsletter information from Zappa Records/UMe:
"This double 180-gram LP version will include the original record mastered by Bernie Grundman cut directly from the original analog master tapes and a second disc with 20 minutes of rare and unreleased bonus material, including the “Why Don’tcha Do Me Right?”/“Big Leg Emma” single as well as vintage remixes, and radio ads from The Vault on side one and a laser etching of Zappa’s visage from the album cover on side two. The package features Zappa’s original layout and a reproduction of the rare, highly sought-after “libretto,” an 18-page booklet with a foreword by FZ and lyrics to all the compositions, that was offered only by mail order when originally released."

LP1 – Side 1
1. Plastic People
2. The Duke Of Prunes
3. Amnesia Vivace
4. The Duke Regains His Chops
5. Call Any Vegetable
6. Invocation And Ritual Dance Of The Young Pumpkin
7. Soft-Sell Conclusion
LP1 – Side 2 
1. America Drinks
2. Status Back Baby
3. Uncle Bernie’s Farm
4. Son Of Suzy Creamcheese
5. Brown Shoes Don’t Make It
6. America Drinks & Goes Home

LP2 – Side 1 
1. Absolutely Free Radio Ad #1
2. Why Don’tcha Do Me Right
3. Big Leg Emma
4. Absolutely Free Radio Ad #2
5. “Glutton For Punishment…”
6. America Drinks – 1969 Re-Mix
7. Brown Shoes Don’t Make It – 1969 Re-Mix
8.  America Drinks & Goes Home #2 – 1969 Re-Mix
LP2 – Side 2
Laser Etching

It was fifty years ago today...

Yes, you have already heard about it on the radio, read about it in newspapers and elsewhere...the 50th anniversary of Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
We at the Radio Dupree staff have just listened through the album on decent volume, and urge you to do the same, whether it is the brand new anniversary edition or the 2009 remaster or ye olde scratchy vinyl album.

And hey, for you Swedish speaking people: Sveriges Radio Kristianstad did an interview today with Beatles expert Staffan Olander. He tells that he did lend out his rare radio promo of Penny Lane for the production of the anniversary edition of Sergeant Pepper: "They sent over a courier to fetch the record."

Jimi Hendrix film from Royal Albert Hall 1969

Someone has uploaded the shelved film from Jimi Hendrix's final show in London. 
The film was never published because of dispute over the legal details. Now a Vimeo user has uploaded it. We urge you not to watch it!

Lost 1967 Zappa interview tape found again

A really good radio interview with Frank Zappa from November 13, 1967, has been unearthed.
Joe Doll was one of the DJ:s that did the interview in Detroit for WCBN, the student-run community radio station of University of Michigan. He thought the tape was lost but recently found it, almost 50 years after it was recorded. It has now been digitized and uploaded for the world to hear.

Listen or download here.

The sound is really good and it is one of the better interviews with Frank. The earlier interviews with Frank are often the more interesting ones.
Some of the topics are Frank's impressions of The Mothers of Invention's first European tour (September and October 1967), his collaboration with The Monkees (which the people around first seem to take as a joke) and his opinion on The Beatles (surprisingly quite positive!)

Article on the unearthed tape here.

Roger Waters plays new song

Ex Pink Floyd member Roger Waters on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Waters performs a song from his upcoming album 'Is This The Life We Really Want?'

Two more Japanese dates for Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers; Osaka and Nagoya

After the 24 dates in USA in August/September, but before they play two shows at the Blue Note Jazz Festival in Yokohama, Japan on September 23 & 24, Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers will be at the Festival Hall, Osaka on 20 September and Nagoya International Conference Center in Nagoya two days later.

September 20:
Festival Hall, Osaka

The link on Donald Fagen's Facebook page just leads to a general entertainment portal, and the Festival Hall homepage has no mention of it. But since it is on his official events page we take it that the contracts have been signed.


September 22:
Nagoya International Conference Center, Nagoya

General On sale date is 10 June.

Tickets seem to be priced at 12 000 or 15 000 Yen (= 106/132 US$, 96/120 € and 82/102 £).

Click here for link to the Japanese ticket page.


良い一日を

King Crimson touring North America with FOUR drummers

Crimson in Stockholm 2016.

King Crimson have announced their North American tour 2017, and if three drummers were not enough (as for the 2016 European tour)...they have added even one more.
The touring lineup, according to consequenceofsound.net, looks like this:
Robert Fripp (guitar, keyboards) and longtime associates Tony Levin (bass, Chapman Stick) and Mel Collins (saxophone) alongside singer/guitarist Jakko Jakszyk and four drummers, Bill Rieflin, Gavin Harrison, Pat Mastelotto and Jeremy Stacey. Stacey and Rieflin will also double as keyboardists. Referring to this tour configuration as the “Double Quartet Formation,” Fripp says King Crimson is “likely to be making a lot more noise than before.”

To coincide with the tour, King Crimson is releasing an EP featuring their version of David Bowie’s “Heroes” recorded in Berlin during the band’s 2016 European tour. Fripp, of course, played on Bowie’s original track.
Fripp explains that the EP, which will be released on June 2nd, is as a celebration, a remembrancing and an homage to Bowie.

Check for North American tour dates here.

50th anniversary of iconic Hendrix debut album

Today it is 50 years ago since the original release of the groundbreaking debut album by the Jimi Hendrix Experience. 
Are You Experienced was an immediate commercial success and is by many regarded as one of the greatest debuts in rock'n'roll. The magazine Rolling Stone ranked it #15 on their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

The title track - behind the scenes:

Are You Experience is one of those awesome 1967 albums that changed popular music. (Pink Floyd's The Piper at the Gates of Dawn and The Beatles' Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band are two more).

Another anniversary:

Today English rock artist extraordinaire, Ian Dury, would have been 75. 
He made quite a success in the late 1970's with songs as Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick, Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3 and Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll,.

Unfortunately Ian passed away in 2000. And hey, there is actually a link between Ian Dury and Jimi Hendrix debut album. There is one song on Ian's album Laughter (1980) called "Manic Depression (Jimi)". But it is not a cover of Jimi's song.

Just announced: Steely Dan live in London and Dublin in 2017!

Steely Dan will play the 2017 Blues Fest in Dublin and London with "very special guests" The Doobie Brothers.

The dates are October 28 in Dublin at the 3 Arena followed by London and the O2 Arena on October 29.

Tickets go on sale May 12. Presale May 10.

It's been eight years since Steely Dan played London. It was part of the 2009 Left Bank tour that saw the band play a total of 12 shows in Holland, Belgium, Scotland, UK, France, Switzerland, Italy and Monaco.

Now ... something tells me that Steely Dan won't pop over to do just two shows. there should be at least a handful more in Europe. Makes economic sense. But when and where?
Time for live gig detectives to check for other festival opportunities, when Steely Dan members have holes in their schedules etcetera.

With the band just having finished a number of shows in Las Vegas, a couple of dates set for April, June and July plus Donald Fagen doing a solo trek in September this looks like a busy year for Steely Dan indeed.

And while we at Radio Dupree had been busy polishing up our 極めて基本的な日本語, a trip to London and/or Dublin doesn't rule Yokohama out, right?

Dweezil Zappa in Portland: Great choice of songs

Radio Dupree had the opportunity to attend a Dweezil Zappa concert in Portland, Oregon on April 27. A very pleasant experience!
Dweezil performs his father's music, although his siblings Ahmet and Diva don't want him to. He explained that the band would play the songs in chronological order, so the first part of the concert consisted of several numbers from Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention's debut album Freak Out! from 1966. Highlight so far: A heavy version of Who Are The Brain Police?

Then Dweezil had the good taste to bring in a couple of rock songs from 200 Motels: What Will This Evening Bring Me This Morning and She Painted Up Her Face. Good rock songs but hardly ever performed live after Frank left the Flo & Eddie era (1970/71).
We also got to hear Keep It Greasey in a version very close to the original version on the Album Joe's Garage, including the odd time signatures during the guitar solo.

By the end of the concert Dweezil said a few words about the feud with two of his siblings. He also asked the audience to join his pledge music campaign Dweezil Zappa & The Others Of Intention to help him "protect the name that his father gave him".

One of the last songs was a special version of Ride My Faco To Chicago where the lyrics were changed to Ride My Face To Portland.

Over all the concert was a very good one. Great playing and great choice of songs.
But some of the theatrics on stage were unnecessary and sort of stupid. Imagine what such activities could be during songs like Lemme Take You To The Beach and Fembot In A Wet T-Shirt.
And sometimes Dweezil's guitar solos lack inspiration and just don't go nowhere.
...but this band is still a great thing if you're into Frank Zappa.

Rosewood Theatre, Portland, Oregon, USA.
4/27/17
50 Years Of Frank: Dweezil Zappa Plays Whatever The F@%k He Wants.

The band:

Dweezil Zappa: Lead Guitar, Vocals

Scheila Gonzalez: Sax, Keys, Vocals

Ryan Brown: Drums, Vocals

Kurt Morgan: Bass, Vocals

Chris Norton, Keys, Vocals

David Luther, Baritone Sax, Rhythm Guitar, Lead Vocals

Cian Coey, Lead Vocals

Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers announce 26 dates!

We wrote about the two Japanese shows Donald Fagen will play in September three weeks ago. Hoping that there would be more. And today a total of 26 dates were announced on Donald Fagen's Facebook page.

The full text of the post reads:

Donald Fagen has a new special project taking to the road this summer: Donald Fagen and The Nightflyers. Set to begin on August 3rd and 4th at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY, the U.S. tour leg will hit two dozen cities before wrapping at San Francisco’s The Masonic on Sept. 16. Following the U.S. dates, the band will travel to Japan for select performances. On tour, Donald Fagen and The Nightflyers will play songs from Fagen’s celebrated solo albums, Steely Dan hits, plus, as promised by Fagen, “some swell surprises.”

More info on the band from a pressrelease:

Joining Fagen (keyboard, vocals) is an all new band -the Nightflyers- a quartet of young musicians that Donald has been working with over the past few years near his home in Woodstock, NY. The Nightflyers are Connor Kennedy (guitar, vocals), Lee Falco (drums, vocals), Brandon Morrison (bass, vocals) and Will Bryant (keyboards, vocals). Previously, the foursome have been performing together in haunts, joints, dives, and even a few reputable establishments, up and down New York's Hudson River Valley and beyond.

And here are the dates!

AUGUST:

3: The Capitol Theatre
Port Chester, New York

4: The Capitol Theatre
Port Chester, New York

8: The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater
Miami Beach, Florida

9: Ruth Eckard Hall, Backstage
Clearwater, Florida

11: Hard Rock Live Orlando
Orlando, Florida

12: St. Augustine Amphitheatre
St. Augustine, Florida

14: The Montgomery Performing Arts Centre at Renaissance Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama

16: The Woodruff Arts Center
Atlanta, Georgia

17: lson Center - Cape Fear Community College
Wilmington, North Carolina

19: Tivoli Theatre • Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium • Walker Theatre
Chattanooga, Tennessee

20: Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Nashville, Tennessee

22: Louisville Palace
Louisville, Kentucky

23: Taft Theatre
Cincinnati, Ohio

25: Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park
Northfield, Ohio

26: Four Winds Casinos
New Buffalo, Michigan

28: Old National Centre
Indianapolis, Indiana

29: Pabst / Riverside / Turner Hall (116 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

31: The Stiefel Theatre
Salina, Kansas

SEPTEMBER:

2: ACL Live
Austin, Texas

3: Majestic & Empire Theatres
San Antonio, Texas

12: Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Portland, Oregon

13: Paramount Theatre
Seattle, Washington

15: Mountain Winery
Saratoga, California

16: The Masonic
San Francisco, California

23: 横浜赤レンガ倉庫（Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse）
Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan

24: 横浜赤レンガ倉庫（Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse）
Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan

Tickets are already on sale for a few of the shows. The easiest way to get more information is to visit the events page on his Facebook page: http://smarturl.it/DonaldFagenEvents

 

Donald Fagen 2017 solo shows

We've already written about the two headlining shows Donald Fagen will do in Japan in September here and here.

But it looks likee there's more coming up.

On Ticketmaster you can find one show listed;

August 9: Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, Florida
(Tickets go on sale this Friday = April 21).

Various pages - but not the venue homepage - also list

* August 19: Tivoli Theatre, Chattanooga, Tennessee

And while looking for comfirmation we stubled upon a third date over on
http://www.presalepasswordinfo.com/search.php?needle=Donald+Fagen

* September 19: The Masonic, San Francisco, California

Once again no listing on the venue homepage. Also no information on any of this on Donald's official Facebook homepage. Not even the two Japanese dates. But its looking more and more like an autumn solo tour for Donald Fagen this year. :)

Larry Carlton on stage with Steely Dan

Larry Carlton joined Steely Dan on stage in Las Vegas and posted this on his Facebook page:

That's Larry flanked by Jon Herington and Walter Becker.

I spent easter weekend in Las Vegas hanging out with Steely Dan. And Saturday night I sat in and played kid Charlemagne with them. I will be performing 3 shows with them in the near future. What a wonderful reunion for me. Thanks for the hang guys.LC

And in the comments he added:

 "The three shows that I will deal with Steely Dan Connecticut, dodger Stadium and New York"

That's the The Classic West hoopla at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles on June 15, The Classic East wingding at Citi Field, New York on July 29. No date announced in Connecticut yet, but they did play Wallingford there last year, so...

R.I.P. Allan Holdsworth

The news came via Facebook.

Allan Holdsworth (b 1946) was indeed thee guitarist extraordinaire of our time. In the 70's Allan had made some remarkable recordings with the group UK (with Bill Bruford, Eddie Jobson, John Wetton) and later with Bruford's group. Allan started his solo carreer in the early 80's with the album I.O.U. The young Van Halen was blown away by Allan's playing and thanks to him Allan got a record deal with WEA.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/361803263942657/?fref=ts

Donald Fagen live in Japan. Ticket presale starts today

Donald Fagen will be the headline act with his band The Nightflyers both evenings of the Blue Note Jazz Festival in Yokohama, Japan September 23 & 24.

Tickets go on presale today for members only. General sale starts May 20.
Prices?

You can pay 11 000 yen (99 USD/94 Euro) for the standing section or go for seated tickets at 16 000 (144 USD/136 Euro) or 24 000 yen (216 USD/204 Euro).

http://bluenotejazzfestival.jp/